What's Your Canvas?–Felicity Hall

Meet Felicity Hall, an artist from the U.K. who is the creator of Butterflies Made of Paper. Felicity is not only passionate about her painting skills, but also has pursued a career in music. She is one of three songstress' from the group Songbirds, who recently signed on with EMI Records. You can also learn about Songbirds at their myspace page www.myspace.com/songbirdsmusic. Check out their first single Wake Up Call. Felicity is following her passions. Congratulations Felicity!

Treat: What's your canvas?
Felicity: I work with all different mediums, but for my jewellery I mainly work with resin that I colour with pigments and gold/silver leaf, as this is the basis for most of my painted jewellery pendants, I also include some ceramic pieces in my collection. I've also just started sourcing Venetian glass beads and semi-precious stones that I also use in my designs. I paint with enamels as they're hard-wearing and water resistant once varnished, using enamel paints took a bit of getting used to initially as I've always used oils in the past to paint with, enamels are not as fluid and as easily manipulated, so I had to create some net techniques.

Treat: What or who inspired you to design the art pieces you make, and how did that transpire?
Felicity: I have been creative for as long as I can remember, and I‘ve always had no trouble sourcing inspiration, I think it‘s inherent from the start. When I was little every Christmas I would get one of those jumbo packs of coloured felt-tip pens in my stocking, as my parents knew they would keep me quiet and occupied for hours, until they eventually ran out! One of my favourite things to do, would be to copy out an existing short story and illustrate it in my own way. I lived quite far away from my school friends in the middle of the countryside so I had to occupy myself in other ways, I was always making things from cross-stitch samples to origami animals! I was very lucky as I had a fantastic lady that used to come to my Primary School and do different creative projects with us kids – so I was inspired and encouraged artistically from a very early age.

I find inspiration everywhere! new designs come to me all the time, with the band I’m constantly travelling from one place to another so I always try and take the opportunity to jot down all the ideas I have rattling around in my head. I’m going to end up with back problems when I’m older as my hand-bag is so heavy from being full-up with pens and note-pads for that sudden inspirational moment that needs to be recorded. I take inspiration from anything and everything, a lot of my designs are based on Chinese / Japanese decorative ornamentation, so I love going to the V&A and other museums that hold oriental collections.

Treat: What makes your creations unique?
Felicity: The pieces I make are unique because I only create one of each design, it’s very important to me to do this as it enables the wearer/owner to obtain complete individuality and makes each piece that extra bit special.

How did you come up with the name Butterflies Made of Paper?
Felicity: The name originated from my butterfly resin pendants, a jewellery range I started with, consisting of a paper painted butterfly complete with stitched wings and wire antennae entrapped in clear casting resin. I used to sell these on market stalls and I was forever being asked if they were real butterflies, which resulted in producing labels quoting 'Butterflies Made Of Paper'...it just seemed right to call my label it!

Treat: In the U.S., more and more schools are taking away art education. Is that also true in the U.K.? If not, why do you think the U.K. values art more?
Felicity: I’m very shocked and surprised to learn this, fortunately I don’t think this is true of the U.K, it’s my understanding that the arts are still very important to our school curriculum. Our schools still believe that art and design stimulates creativity and imagination and provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences that are valuable to a growing person, encouraging a unique way of understanding and response to the world. Through art and design based activities young people can learn to make informed value judgements and aesthetic and practical decisions helping them develop as well-rounded individuals. An understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts has the power to enrich our personal and public lives, any form of expression, whether its 'creative' or not, I believe is beneficial to young people be it through art, drama, languages, sport etc. Self-expression breeds confidence, which is what every person needs to achieve their goals.

Treat: What are some other ways the U.K. supports the arts?
Felicity: We are very lucky to have a wide range of arts and crafts councils spread across the U.K, these provide an invaluable support network and invest public money from the government and the national lottery in U.K arts/crafts. They support artists/crafts people and arts/craft organisations to take creative risks and follow new opportunities.

Treat: How has the arts helped you personally?
Felicity: Art is extremely important to me, practising art frees-up my brain space and enables me to function as a human being. Without creative expression I think I’d explode! My need to create is so inherent that if I haven’t created something for a couple of days I feel extremely irritable and frustrated.

Without the arts I would loose my individuality and confidence, I think if you're a creative person any form of expression is beneficial and serves as an outlet for a lot of emotion.

Treat: What can we expect in the future from Butterflies Made of Paper?
Felicity: My main aim for the future is to keep making as much as possible, and keep developing ideas. I’ve just started creating small framed paintings in a similar style to my book covers to add to my collection. Eventually I would like to expand my online shop/outlets and possibly in the future have a shop of my own. I’m currently also preparing to create a little book of counted thread-work patterns (another of my passions) based on some of my jewellery designs, so that should also keep me busy for a while!…Basically I just want to keep enjoying what I do and keep exercising my need to create, whether it’s in the form of painting, jewellery, designing, or singing! as ultimately that’s what makes me happy.

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If you know a Designer, Writer, Business owner, or any supporter of design/art whose work inspires you, please send me a short explanation with their e-mail address, web-site, or blog by submitting to treatblog@gmail.com.